And he said it belonged among the best days of his footballing life. "Pretty high," Austin explained.

"For anybody to come to United and be part of a winning team is great. But for me to score on my debut and come away with the three points is even better.

"Wherever I go I back myself to score. For any striker moving in January is tough and to get that first goal is very important so I'm just delighted to get it so early on."

Charlie Austin scored the winner in Southampton's defeat of Manchester United on Saturday.

Austin was the fourth-highest scorer in last season's Premier League, striking 18 times for a QPR team who were eventually relegated.

And it has prompted questions if the former Burnley player, who Southampton signed for a cut-price fee, has received the praise he deserved.

"I don't know whether I was credited enough for what I did at QPR," Austin added. "Maybe that was just it but now I have come to a club like Southampton they are only going one way and I want to be part of that journey.

"As long as I can continue to do what I did for QPR at the start of the season, plus the 18 goals I got in the Premier League, if I can continue that form then I will help Southampton."